Why does a X ring chain cost so much more than a O ring chain?

I'm on my second DID 530 ZVM Heavy Duty 'X' Ring Chain.
The first lasted 20,000+ miles.
When I compare that to the 3,000 average life of Regina and Renolds chains, back in the '70s and '80s, I'm happy to pay the price (£133.51, last August).
The extra life I get out of sprockets is a valuable consideration.
 
redax5 said:
I use the same chain on my race bikes as the MotoGP teams use and it is a DID 520 ERV7 X-Ring chain
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That's interesting that they use x-ring chain in MotoGP. A plain (non-ring) chain would be a little more efficient, but maybe they can't get it in as high spec as the ERV7. I suppose if they're all using the same chain it's a level playing field. Makes me wonder if they're permitted to use something different if they want to.
 
I got a DID x ring for two bikes and they weren’t that pricy. Obviously not the model that Red uses as it was around $85 from Peter Stevens on spesh Iirc.
 
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Very nice DID comparison info here,

The ERV7 certainly looks to be the one to have,
I chose the 520MX a few months back because I wanted the strongest / Lightest but to be honest I think the ERV7 is a much better option,
Basically the same weight, nothing in it for tensile but the wear rating of 410 against 3000 is well worth the investment in the ERV7.
I have 3 MX chains now but will surely change as it seems the sealed chain development has moved on by miles recently.

Good info.
Julian
 
I was using the 520 mx chains for the “efficiency” reason on the rs250, would break or nearly break a chain every 2 race meetings, yes the are lighter but a mx has the rear wheel spinning which I would assume would give the chain less load than constant bitumen tension on track, changed to the did, change once a year, for no other reason than part of the freshen up, gave em to the kids with smaller bikes to use
 
Hi Cosi,
I would have guessed the reason the off road bike chains have a hard time is due to the shock loads, spinning and then hooking up constantly, Jumps and landings etc. As opposed to as you say, fairly constant or at least much more progressive load changes on tarmac.
No research just my thinking.
J
 
Don't know about shock loads in off-roading. I remember when KTM first released their super high-performance single cylinder 4 stroke range with the warning that you shouldn't use them extensively on Bitumen as they didn't have a cush drive and that kind of use could damage gearboxes. So they estimated Bitumen use was more damaging to their drive line than off-road use. People did it anyway so who knows.
 
Hi Vince,
I think the type of off roading you could do on a big hulking KTM would be a different thing to a full on 500 motocross bike being ridden by a pro.
But then again, like you, just guessing.

I would think that there is a reason though that the two strongest chains in the DID list are the MX and the ERV7 by quite a margin and these are the ones made for the top level sports in each category and have a very close tensile rating to one another.

J
 
Cosi said:
Yeah I dunno, all I know is they used to break and they weren’t the cheap ones
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So even though the MX is of similar strength to the ERV you still used to break them, Cosi?! Or was the MX you refer to not a DID?

I got a DID X-ring from Batto so maybe you can chime in Steve? Can't recall the model - in bed with a serious flu so can't go and check. What do/did you use on the 917?
 
Good luck with the Flu, I have had the flu jab for the past 10 years since the last time I had it and that ended up with Bronchitis, and that took a couple to get over, spent some time looking after Imunosupresed Relos and to them, the Flu can be lethal. The Flu jab is a good thing.
 
Thanks Vince. I'm really annoyed with myself as have been telling myself to get the flu jab ever since I recovered from covid. Too freakin busy - excessive stress.
 
The ZZR250 (maybe 35HP?) I rode from Melbourne to Sydney and back destroyed the chain in 1800km ... like so much play it was almost unadjustable. Never seen ANY chain wear like it. The seller's dad had fitted it and I assumed it was a cheapo O-ring piece of crap fitted to save money.
 
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